Method and apparatus for modifying graphic matter



United States Patent [72] Inventor: P8111 S. H111, Jr.

1104 Butternut, Northbrook, Illinois 60062 [21] Application No.: 526,526 [22] Filed: Feb. 10, I966 [45] Patented: Aug. 4, 1970 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING GRAPHIC MATTER 1 Claim, Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 101/426, 197/84, 95/85, 96/46 [51] Int. Cl. B41c l/00, G03c 11/00 [50] Field olSenrch 101/426, 40l.1;197/84.1,211;254/51;96/46;95/1, 4.5, 85, 73; 101/399 [56] ReferencosCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,081,208 3/1963 Bottorf et al 264/ l 76 3,278,663 [0/1966 Graham 333,737 1/1886 Fougeadoire 101/426UX 1,992,017 2/1935 Spielvogel... 95/85X 2,037,254 4/1936 Miller 101/426 2,153,597 4/1939 Schultz.... 101/426 2,249,419 7/1941 Craine 101/426 2,887,941 5/1959 Home, Jr. 95/85 3,075,446 l/1963 Home, Jr. 96/46 3,081,571 3/1963 Dayen et a1 101/426UX 3,163,096 12/1964 Noble 95/4.5 3,223,526 12/1965 Grieshaber et al Primary Examiner- Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner Eugene H. Eickholt Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and Mc Cord ABSTRACT: The method of altering the ratio of two 1 dimensions of graphic matter which comprises separating one portion of graphic matter displayed on a sheet of stretchable material, stretching said sheet in one direction while holding it taut along sheet edges parallel to the direction of stretch, en-

larging the separated portion proportionally in both directions and then recombining both portions.

Patented Aug. 4, 1970 TABLOID STRETCHED TABLOID UNSTRETCH ED 7 r i wh m 3 m 5 M a. Z p W MW a.

Patnted Aug. 4, 1970 v 3,522,770

Sheet 2 of 4 Patented V Aug. 4, 1970 Sheet Patented Aug. 4, 1970 Sheet 4 U.S. PATENT 3,522,770 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING GRAPHIC MATTER This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reproportioning graphic matter.

There are many situations where it is desirable to reproduce graphic matter in a different size from that in which it exists. With the present photographic methods and apparatus, it is relatively simple to increase or reduce the size of graphic matter if the ratio of the dimensions, as the ratio of height to width, is unchanged. However, where this ratio must be changed, problems are encountered. Photographic equipment has been proposed for performing this conversion, but it is complicated and requires highly skilled personnel for operation. See, for example, Bartz 2,607,268. Craine 2,249,419 shows an apparatus which makes use of an expansible sheet which is expanded, imprinted and then released to reduce the size of the graphic matter in one dimension. Special precautions were required to avoid a bulge at the center of the sheet upon its release.

Very often, when the dimensional ratio of printed matter must be altered, type is completely reset for it, a time consuming and expensive procedure. An example is found with advertising which may appear in several news media having pages with different dimensional ratios. More specifically, consider a full page ad for a standard size daily newspaper, which has dimensions of 22" x 13-7/8", a height to width ratio of 1.58. In a tabloid newspaper, the printing dimensions for each page are approximately 14"x -3/ and the height to width ratio is 1.29. lf the full standard size page is photoreduced for incorporation in the tabloid, with a height of 14 inches, the width is only 8-29/32 inches, leaving a substantial margin. If the reduction is only to the point that the width of the graphic matter is proper, the top or bottom of the ad must be cropped. Conversely, if matter originally designed for a tabloid size page is to be used in a standard paper, either a margin must be left at the top or bottom or the sides must be cutoff. In addition, newspapers and other printed media differ greatly in the width and number of columns per page. Many display ads are based on a unit column width and a portion of the full page height, and situations are common where a change in proportion is desirable.

One feature of the invention is the method of altering the ratio of two dimensions of graphic matter, which comprises displaying the matter on a sheet of stretchable material and stretching the sheet in only one dimension to achieve the desired ratio. More particularly, the sheet is stretched in one dimension while the other dimension is maintained substantially constant.

It is another feature of the method that the graphic matter is displayed on the sheet in a deformable medium, as wet ink, which will not separate during the stretching operation.

A further feature of the invention is that the sheet of stretchable material is secured along opposed edges and held in a taut condition while it is stretched in the dimension generally parallel with the opposed edges. More particularly, the sheet is secured at spaced points along the opposed edges of the sheet and the points of securing separate as the sheet is stretched.

Still another feature of the invention is that the graphic matter is displayed on a stretchable sheet which has an extent in one dimension substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the graphic material and that the ratio of sheet dimensions is altered by stretching the sheet in the other dimension to achieve a desired ratio.

And another feature of the invention is that a portion of the graphic matter is separated from the display on the sheet of stretchable material and is enlarged proportionally in both dimensions while the sheet is stretched in only one dimension to alter the dimensional ratio of the remainder of the graphic matter. The separated portion is then recombined with the reproportioned matter. This preserves the original dimensional relationship of the separated portion of the graphic matter.

Yet a further feature is that the graphic matter is displayed on a sheet of extruded plastic film and that the sheet is stretched in the dimension generally parallel to the direction of extrusion of the material.

Another feature is the provision of an apparatus for stretching a sheet on which graphic matter is displayed, and including a frame with a movable side member, means for securing the sheet between the movable side member and a member opposite thereto and further means securing the sheet at spaced points along the opposed edges at right angles to the movable side, maintaining the sheet in a taut condition.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic elevation of a press useful in the practice of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a stretching frame useful in the practice of the invention, with the parts in position before stretching has taken place;

FIGURE'3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the parts of the frame after stretching;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the preparation of a photographic reproduction of the stretched graphic matter;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the transformation of a full page of copy of a standard newspaper to that of a tabloid newspaper, both without and with the method of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a detail plan view of the carrying frame mounted on the stretching frame after the sheet has been stretched and with the spreader bars in place;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the stretching frame with the carrying frame removed;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the carrying frame removed from the stretching frame;

FIGURE 1 l is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along line 11-11 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged section taken along line 12-12 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary section taken along line 13-13 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewtaken along line 14-14 ofFIGURE l5;

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIGURE 14 showing the position of the sheet securing clips prior to stretching of the sheet;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 15 showing the position of the sheet securing clips following stretching of the sheet;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary plan view, with the sheet of stretchable material removed, taken generally along line 17- 17 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE l5 showing a modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 19 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 showing the modified form of the invention with a sheet stretched.

The invention will be described in terms of printed matter and as applied to the publishing field. It will be understood, however that the method and apparatus of the invention may be utilized in reproportioning any graphic matter which can be displayed on a sheet of stretchable material. For best results it is desirable to use a medium of display, as wet ink, which will deform and maintain its integrity when the sheet is stretched.

Briefly, applicants novel method is carried out in the following manner. The graphic matter which is to be altered is displayed on a sheet of stretchable material. The graphic matter may be applied to the sheet in any suitable manner, as by printing, drawing or painting, or photography. The sheet is next placed in a carrying or supporting frame which has one side that is adjustable with respect to the side opposite thereto. The edges of the sheet are secured, as will appear, to the adjustable side and the side opposed thereto and the sheet is further secured in a taut condition at a plurality of spaced points along the sides at right angles to the adjustable sides.

The carrying frame is then placed in a stretching frame and the adjustable side moved outwardly the required distance to stretch the sheet and the graphic matter displayed thereon. The carrying frame is locked in position and removed from the stretching frame for further processing of the matter displayed. For example, a photograph may be made of the stretched graphic matter, photographically modified (if necessary) to the right size and utilized in preparing a printing plate, as by photoengraving or other suitable procedures.

Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES I through 4, the novel procedures and a portion of the apparatus utilized therein will be described in more detail. In FIGURE 1, a sheet of plastic film is imprinted with graphic matter, as in a flat bed proof press 26 having a roller 27 which presses the stretchable sheet against the inked type 28. Sheet 25 is then placed in a carrying frame 29 made up of vertical members 30, 31 and horizontal members 32, 33. The carrying frame 29 is mounted on a stretching frame 35 which includes vertical members 36, 37, and horizontal members 38, 39. The outer extensions of frame members 38 and 39 carry a third vertical frame member 40 in which are threaded a pair of adjusting screws 42 and 43. Manipulation of the adjusting screws moves the vertical frame member 36 with respect to frame member 37. When carrying frame 29 is mounted on stretching frame 35, the vertical carrying frame members 30, 31 are outside vertical stretching frame members 36, 37. Accordingly, adjustment of the position of member 36 away from member 37 causes a corresponding change in the position of frame member 30 with respect to frame member 31.

The stretchable sheet 25, after it is mounted on supporting frame 29 and secured thereto, is stretched in its horizontal dimension to the position shown in FIGURE 3. Vertical member 31 of the sheet supporting frame is then locked with horizontal frame members 32 and 33 and the film supporting frame is removed from stretching frame 35.

Supporting frame 29 with the expanded sheet of graphic matter is placed in front of a camera 45, FIGURE 4, and the expanded graphic matter is photographed. The over-all size of the graphic matter may then be enlarged or reduced using suitable photographic techniques. Finally, a printing plate is photographically prepared.

A comparison of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 shows the operation of the invention. In FIGURE 5, a page of a standard size newspaper is illustrated, with the normal limits of the printed portion indicated by the area 51. If the graphic matter from a standard newspaper page is reduced in size photographically, the height of the area 52 fits a tabloid size sheet 53. The difference of the height to width ratio for the standard newspaper page and the tabloid sheet results in leaving a wide border 54 around the graphic matter. This is both a waste of valuable newspaper space and is unsightly. In FIGURE 7, the tabloid page 55 is illustrated with a full area of graphic matter 56, as is obtained by the use of the method of this application.

As a specific example, if a full page of a standard newspaper is to be proportioned for a tabloid paper, a print is made on stretchable material of the standard newspaper page. The graphic matter. has dimensions of approximately 22 x 13- 7/8". To resize this matter for a tabloid page, it is necessary that the width be increased to achieve a height-width ratio of 1.29. This is a width of approximately 17 inches and requires stretching the sheet about 3 inches, or over 20 per cent.

Many materials may be used for the stretchable sheet 25. The most important requirements are that it take a printed impression well and that it stretch uniformly without tearing. A 2-1/2 mil polyethylene sheet material has been found satisfactory. A vinyl film of the same order of thickness has also been used. To provide contrast it is preferable that the sheet material have a white pigmentation. A clear material may also be used but best results are achieved if a sheet of contrasting color is placed behind the clear material when it is photographed.

Extruded films are the most readily available satisfactory stretchable material. They perform with the best results when the direction of expansion is parallel to the direction of extrusion. Apparently there are stresses set up in the film as a result of the extrusion operation which result in non-uniform stretching and tearing if the stretching force is applied at right angles to the direction of the extrusion.

It is important that the medium in which the graphic matter is displayed on the stretchable sheet 25 be one which will expand with the material, without separation or excessive thinning. A standard black newspaper ink has been found quite satisfactory. When it is used to imprint the relatively impervious surface of a plastic film, it does not dry rapidly but remains wet for a substantial period of time. Even under conditions of humidity of the order of 25 to 30 per cent, the ink remains wet for more than an hour allowing adequate time to complete the stretching operation.

There may be situations where the graphic matter includes portions which would be excessively distorted by the stretching necessary to modify the height to width ratio in the manner desired. For example, it may be desirable that photographs or other illustrations retain their original height to width ratio although the remainder of the matter on the sheet is altered. In this case, the portion which is to keep its original height to width ratio is separated from the original copy and altered in size photographically to fit the final space in which it will be placed. For example, the separated portion could be blanked out when the proof is first made on the stretchable sheet 25. If this is not feasible, it may be covered on the stretched sheet before it is photographed as shown in FIGURE 4. As another alternative, the separated portion could be eliminated photographically before the altered photographic image is replaced in the stretched matter.

In newspaper work that includes shaded figures, the method of this invention has a particular advantage. If graphic matter for a full size page is merely reduced photographically to the tabloid size, the small dots which provide the shading effect become much denser and, as a result of the flow characteristics of the printing ink, areas which were intended to be gray may turn out a solid black. Where the graphic matter is first stretched before being reduced photographically, the density of the dots is correspondingly reduced and the resulting tabloid presentation is more faithful to the original.

The thin plastic film which is preferably used as the stretchable sheet in the practice of the present invention presents some difficulties in handling. The sheet is completely limp and, unless great care is taken, there may be folds or ripples in the sheet during the initial imprinting, which will cause irregularities in the graphic matter when the sheet is drawn taut and then stretched. This condition can be obviated by mounting the blank sheet in the removable carrying frame 29 before it is imprinted. This procedure however, imposes certain limitations on the apparatus used for making the initial impression. It is reasonably satisfactory with a simple, flat bed press, provided the dimensions of the carrying frame 29 are greater than the size of the bed of the press. On the other hand, offset or other rotating type presses cannot be used. If it is desirable to use such equipment in making the initial graphic display, the sheet 25 of stretchable material is adhesively mounted on a paper backing sheet. The laminated combination can then be handled with more ease and imprinted in an offset or other rotary type press. The stretchable sheet is then stripped from the paper backing member before being mounted in the frame 25.

Turning now to FIGURES 8 through 13, various details of an embodiment of the carrying and stretching frames will be described.

Vertical carrying frame members 30 and 31, FIGURE 12, are inverted U-shaped members to which a movable jaw 66 is secured by bolts 67. The opposite edges of stretchable sheet 25 are received in the space between the frame member and the jaw. The plastic sheet is wrapped partially around resilient spline 68 and clamped between movable jaw 66 and the frame member.

The upper and lower ends of the stretchable sheet 25 are secured in a somewhat different manner. Referring particu larly to FIGURES 14 through 17, upper frame member 32 has slidably mounted thereon a plurality of clips 72, each of which in the form shown is a short section of channel having jaws 73 in which the edge of the sheet is held by a spline 74. The short clip members are connected together by cords 75 and 76, with small (compared with the clip length) and uniform sections of cord between adjacent clips. Before sheet 25 is stretched, clips 72 are positioned immediately adjacent each other, with the cords hanging loosely between adjacent clips, FIGURE 15. when the sheet is stretched, the clips 72 separate, FIGURE 16. The separation is uniform, however, as a result of the interconnection by cords 75 and 76, distributing the stretching across the ends of the sheet. The ends of the cords are anchored in side members 30, 31.

Adjusting screw 42 is held in a bearing 80 mounted on the stretching frame member 40 and extends through a threaded nut 81 carried on the vertical frame member 36. Screw 43 is similarly mounted. Rotation of adjusting screws 42 and 43 moves frame member 36 relative to frame member 37.

Carrying frame 29 with the imprinted sheet 25 mounted thereon is placed on stretching frame 35 with the vertical member 36 so spaced from vertical member 37 that the carrying frame members 30 and 31 are on the outside. Adjusting screws 42 and 43 are then manipulated to move frame member 36 outwardly stretching the sheet 25. When the desired stretching has been accomplished, adjustable spreaders 78 and 79 are inserted between carrying frame vertical members 30 and 31, locking the frame in its stretched position. Stretching frame member 36 is then backed off permitting removal of the carrying frame for subsequent processing of the graphic matter, as described above.

Although the stretchable sheet 25 is maintained in a taut condition by applying tension in the dimension at right angles to the dimension on which stretching occurs, there is still tendency for deformation or necking down of the material as it is stretched. The degree of deformation is directly related to the horizontal frame members. This can be minimized or made negligible by using a sheet of material which has a dimension at right angles to the dimension in which stretching occurs, greater than the corresponding dimension of the printed matter. For example, in considering the standard newspaper page with a height of 22 inches, which is to be stretched in the direction of its width, the sheet 25 should have a height substantially more than 22 inches. Preferably, when a sheet of standard newspaper size is secured at points approximately two inches apart, the height of the sheet, as mounted in the frame for stretching, is of the order of two times the height of the graphic matter. The graphic matter is then centered in the frame so that there is an equal area of unprinted sheet above and below. In the example given of the page of the standard newspaper, the sheet of stretchable material will have a height of 44 inches, with 11 inches of unprinted sheet above and below the graphic matter.

A modified interconnection of the clips is illustrated in FIGURE 17 and 18. Here, instead of cords, the clips are connected by pivoted links 81 and 82. The operation is substantially the same.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. The method of altering the ratio of height to width of two orthogonally related dimensions of graphic matter which comprises: displaying the graphic matter on a sheet of stretchable material, separating one portion of the graphic matter from said display, securing said sheet along opposite edges to hold the sheet in a taut condition, stretching said sheet in the dimension generally parallel with said edges enlarging said separated portion proportionally 1n bot dimensions and recombining the enlarged and stretched portions of said graphic matter. 

